83 Nigerians Return Home Amid Xenophobic Attacks

On Wednesday, 83 Nigerians returned to Nigeria from South Africa amid rising concerns over xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks targeting Nigerians and other African nationals. They arrived at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos aboard a South African Airways flight from Johannesburg.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through its spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa, confirmed the return, noting that the Nigerians were accompanied by two officials from the Consulate-General of Nigeria in Johannesburg. The repatriation was made possible by private individuals who sponsored the flight tickets, ensuring the safe return of the affected Nigerians.

Upon arrival, the returnees were received by Haruna Ali-Gombe, Director of the African Affairs Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and were subsequently handed over to relevant government agencies for documentation and profiling before reuniting with their families. The Federal Government expressed appreciation for the support from private sponsors and the Nigerian diplomatic mission in South Africa, reiterating its commitment to protecting Nigerians abroad.